Why the heck are bar end shifters...
 

so expensive??

It seems like they're not really that complicated or whatever. I mean compared to brifters and whatnot. But even on ebay, the low end/*** ones still go for 30/40/50 bucks. What gives? Is there a cheaper alternative to bar end shifters that I don't know about?

right now there ar epretty much higher end barends on the market 600 and DA. the suntour ones are quickly drying up. years ago you couldn't give away suntour friction barends now even those command a high price.

if you can find them there are astill DA downtube shifters around but they are still expensive.

It's a matter of production economics. Common shifters have large numbers spec'd on new bikes, and come in a full range of price/quality. The OEM sales justify large efficient production runs that the relatively tiny aftermarket can't. The same logic explains why certain replacement and service parts disappear so fast after they're no longer common in OEM.

Yeah so they dont really make bar-end shift levers anymore, except some high-end models. This means the price will be high for two reasons.
1. the ones being made today are high end and therefor pricey
2. The NOS has been depleted to where you just can't find em as easily, therefor the price goes up

and the 3rd reason: Its cyclocross season, wait till after the fall and the price will go back down. Cross riders love barcons, so the price goes up with the seasonal demand.

There is an alternative that might be cheaper if you can find em. They are barcon shifter mounts that will allow you to mount any DT shifters as bar end shifters. The only ones I seem to find are the Jagwire ones, but those are pricey. Nashbar used to sell em for like $15 but I dont think they have em any more.

Because people will pay that much. They're designed for TT and triathlon bikes, and ultimately, there are no cheap bikes for that group. Expensive bikes don't want cheap components.

+1,

why do you think all modern bar end shifters have the Dura-Ace moniker? The only option I can think of that are actually intended for touring would be the Dia-Compes, but low demand keeps those expensive

OP is 100% right. and the same goes for brifters.

that's why all my shifters are around $5-$10 (friction, non-barend).

http://www.sram.com/sites/default/fi...ro-large_6.jpg
$350...kinda makes the others seem rather affordable:lol:

Seriously, I've only purchased two sets of barcons to date. At first, they did seem a bit expensive for what they are. However, when factoring the included cables & housing, downtube barrel adjusters, packaging and reasonable profit margins, they don't seem terribly overpriced for a product that should last a long time.

Bar-end/barcons are cheap. Where else can you buy a high quality shifter for under $100 new? Look at the price of Chorus/Record and Ultegra/DA. Now, granted they have brake levers. Still you can buy a nice of Tektro levers for under $30 and be into the barcons and BLs for approx $125. That's way less than a set of brifters.

I hate it when that happens.:roflmao2:

You can always get a set of bar end shift pods from Rivendell and use whatever DT shifters you want. Even the price on the pods seems a bit high.... but they'll last forever. http://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=17-068

Barend shifters are expensive because nobody uses them anymore except for some luddites touring and on TT bikes. Both of which are not a large group.